Executive Summary
Purpose of this Report
This report has been produced to support the Impact Assessment ( IA) for the draft River Basin Management Plan ( RBMP) proposed for the Scotland River Basin District ( RBD). The report utilises information from public sources and from consultation with Scottish Government ( SG), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA), Responsible Authorities and key stakeholders to assess the cost and benefits from implementation of the RBMP.
- Two policy options have been considered in the IA of the Scotland RBMP. These are: 'Draft RBMP' - priority actions with a reasonable degree of certainty of being implemented in the first RBMP cycle. This policy assumes there is no need for significant new powers, delivery or funding mechanisms outside those already in place or in the process of being introduced.
- 'Closing the Gap' - this policy includes all the measures in the 'Draft RBMP' option, plus measures that SEPA and SG believe are worthwhile exploring with a view to moving conditions towards the objectives that even if there is some uncertainty about their effectiveness.
The policy options have been considered with respect to the 'Reference/Baseline' - existing measures, planned changes ( e.g. agreed investments programmes) and in-the-pipe changes (where policy is in place for other drivers that should support implementation of the first RBMP).
This document provides:
- An assessment of the importance of identified sectors on resulting pressures to the water environment;
- An options appraisal of the 'Closing the Gap' measures to assist in meeting the environmental objectives;
- A detailed assessment of the costs and benefits by sector;
- A collation of information on potential impacts on small and micro firms; and
- Collated information on the competition assessment.